The highest-calorie menu items at fast-food chains revealed — topping out at over 1,900
There are plenty of reasons to love fast food: it’s quick, convenient, comforting and — let’s face it — delicious.
But there are downsides, of course, with costs increasing, no longer falling into the “cheap eats” category, as well as not necessarily being good for you or nutritious.
Though caloric intake at each fast-food chain varies by item and portion size, Quartz utilized the nutrition database platform Nutritionix to list the eight chains with the highest-calorie menu items — including the specific item and how many calories it contains.
Here are the eight chains and items with the highest caloric intake from lowest to highest:
8. Zaxby’s
In eighth place is American fast-casual restaurant Zaxby’s, which is known for its chicken wings, chicken fingers, sandwiches, “zalads” and “zappetizers.”
The highest-calorie menu item is the Buffalo Boneless Wings & Things, which comes in at 1,460 calories for one serving, according to Nutritionix.
7. Wendy’s
Wendy’s highest-calorie menu item is their Pretzel Bacon Pub Triple.
According to FatSecret’s food database and calorie counter, the item is 1,530 calories for one serving.
6. Shake Shack
In sixth place is Shake Shack, with the highest-calorie item being the Double Down Fries: crinkle-cut fries topped with Shack cheese sauce, spicy cherry peppers and all-natural smoked Niman Ranch bacon.
One serving of the Double Down Fries is 1,910 calories.
5. Checkers
According to Nutritionix, Checkers’ Triple Baconzilla! is 1,210 calories per serving.
The Triple Baconzilla! is three beef hamburger patties with four slices of bacon, two slices of American cheese, melted cheddar cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise served on a toasted bakery-style bun.
4. Culver’s
Culver’s is known for their concrete mixers, and the highest-calorie mixer is the Berry Happy Birthday Concrete Mixer.
A large Berry Happy Birthday Concrete Mixer is 1,570 calories.
3. Dairy Queen
The chain with the third highest-calorie menu items is Dairy Queen.
A large Peanut Butter Puppy Chow Blizzard comes in at 1,360 calories.
2. Burger King
In second place is Burger King, with the Bacon King Burger being the highest-calorie item on the menu.
At 1,200 calories, the Bacon King Burger has two beef burgers, topped with thick-cut smoked bacon, melted American cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise on a sesame seed bun.
1. Sonic Drive-In
The chain with the highest-calorie menu items is Sonic Drive-In.
On Sonic’s menu, the individual item with the highest calorie intake is the Oreo and Reese’s Peanut Butter Shake — with 1,720 calories in a large.
